ForeverDB

WoW Forever gamepad support: what Blizzard says it covers, and what's still beta

The Elwynn Forest map from the WoW Forever client

· ForeverDB

Blizzard has published a guide to playing WoW: Forever with a controller. It covers all XInput controllers, with Xbox and PlayStation button icons, four action bars across three sets, and HUD shortcuts. Blizzard says it is a functional beta: keep a keyboard nearby for chat.

On November 3 Blizzard posted a guide to playing WoW: Forever with a gamepad. It walks through moving, targeting, casting, menus and settings. The feature itself has been on the beta for a while (the September 24 notes listed gamepad changes), and Blizzard is clear that it is still in beta.

This is a beta feature. Blizzard calls it a functional beta, and says interface updates are ongoing.

Gamepad support is available in a beta state, with more improvements to come. Blizzard Entertainment

What's supported, and how to turn it on

Blizzard says WoW: Forever supports all XInput-compatible controllers, and shows both Xbox and PlayStation button icons so you can recognise the controls. To switch over, press Escape to open the Game Menu, choose Options, then Gamepad under Gameplay.

In the Gamepad settings you can adjust Camera, HUD Modifier, Frame Focus Style, Action Bars, Targeting, and Raid Targeting Options. On controllers with supported lighting, the light turns red for a Horde character and blue for an Alliance one.

Moving, targeting and menus

Blizzard's quick guide uses Xbox button names:

  • Move with the left stick, look around with the right stick.
  • Left bumper (LB) targets a friendly, right bumper (RB) targets a hostile.
  • The controller map lists X for Interact, A for Jump, B for Back and Y for Inspect. These buttons also have spell functions.
  • Hold LT, RT, or both triggers together to reach different action bars; release to return to your default bar.
  • The Menu button opens the Main Menu. The View button, marked with overlapping squares, is listed as Change Focus Frame.
  • Zoom the camera by holding LB + RB and moving the right stick forward and back.

Four bars, three sets: 84 ability slots

The gamepad HUD shows four action bars. Each uses the same button layout but can hold a different set of spells, and you swap between them by holding LT, RT, or LT + RT. On top of that you can hold LB + RB and press Left or Right on the d-pad to switch between three action bar sets. Each set has four bars with 28 slots combined, which Blizzard puts at 84 customisable slots across all three sets.

Blizzard's own example is a Mage putting four spells on the same directional button: Up for Polymorph, LT + Up for Fireball, RT + Up for Frostbolt, and LT + RT + Up for Blizzard. Blizzard calls these example assignments, not fixed bindings.

HUD shortcuts

Hold both shoulder buttons (LB + RB), then press one of these to reach common HUD elements directly:

  • LB + RB + B: open Backpack
  • LB + RB + Up: Quest Tracker
  • LB + RB + Down: Chat
  • LB + RB + Y: Manage Buffs

These are also in the main radial menu; the shortcuts just save you a trip through it. A gamepad legend sits in the upper-left corner of the screen and expands when you take certain actions, and most screens have a footer showing the interaction options for that panel.

What's still beta

Blizzard is upfront that the interface work isn't finished. Not every screen has a gamepad footer yet, and bags and menus are still being reworked for controller use.

Not every screen has a footer yet: gamepad support remains in a functional beta, and interface updates are ongoing. Blizzard Entertainment

The biggest practical gap is chat. You can open it with a shortcut, but you still need a keyboard to type. Blizzard says cutting the need for a keyboard is a goal, with a fully keyboard-free experience as the longer-term aim.

Reducing the need for keyboard input remains a development goal, with a keyboard-free experience as the longer-term aim. For now, keep a keyboard within reach for tasks such as typing in-game chat. Blizzard Entertainment

Sources

Explore next